Nerf FAQ: The Great Foam Battle

Everything You Need to Know About Nerf and Other Foam Weaponry

Did you know that enough Nerf darts have been sold over the last five years to circle our planet four times around? The count is somewhere over 4 billion darts since the inception of the product. Yes, seriously, someone did the math. If you are a parent, you may feel like you’ve picked up that same number of foam darts off of your living room floor or in your kids’ play area. What is the crazy attraction that kids have to these foam fighting toys? Here is the low-down on Nerf guns, darts, bullets and other harmless foam-based weaponry.

What Does Nerf Stand For?

Nerf is a brand of toys and guns that was created by Parker Brothers and is owned by the worldwide toy company, Hasbro. Sources say that NERF™ may be an acronym for “Non-Expanding Recreational Foam” or may have been created as a backronym after the toys came into existence. Although Nerf products started with sports balls (most notably the American football) the majority of the toys now are the foam-based guns. These guns, referred to as blasters, shoot ammunition including darts and balls made from Nerf foam. These foam-based weapons have taken today’s generation by storm. While it’s fun to toss around a Nerf football, shooting your friends with an arsenal of foam balls is a whole new level of excitement.

The foam-based universe has now expanded to include games with glowing swords, axes and the like. Whatever your kid (or you!) are looking for, it’s out there.

What Are The Best Nerf Products? 

Apparently, there is a Nerf gun line for every type of personality. Currently, there are 18 lines of different Nerf blasters. They include: N-Strike Elite, Alien Menace, Dart Tag, Vortex, Zombie Strike, and many, MANY more.

There are also Nerf alternatives that use similarly harmless weapons but offer different modes of play.  Take Glow Battle for instance.  Rather than use guns, players battle each other using glowing foam swords.

Based on several review sites, here’s the low down on the best foam weapon products:

NAME	INCLUDES	RECOMMENDED FOR
N-Strike Elite Strong-arm Blaster Nerf Gun	Revolver-style gun and six-dart rapid firing capability that can shoot up to 75 feet	Easy dart loading and automatic firing
Warriors Mark Axe Throwing	Target, two axes, wall hanger	Less space to run
Glow Battle	10 glowing swords, 10 light-up bracelets, all batteries	Groups, evening/night play, all ages, a more active game
Massive Monster Mayhem: Hero’s Hammer	A double-sided foam hammer	Impersonating Thor
REALHUNLEE Training Nunchucks	Foam nunchucks with steel chain	Martial arts training

Do Nerf Darts Come In Different Sizes?

Yes! If you’re purchasing a nerf shooter, you’ll need to know some basic info about the different sizes. Nerf nerds may know that there are a variety of specific nerf bullets and darts to load in your weapons. For the Nerf novice, we will start with the three main types of Nerf darts.

Traditional:	Original style. Smallest and safest. Have most design variety.
Mega:	Significantly larger. Whistle when they fly through air. Bright color makes them easier to see – which may be of little consolation to moms picking them up.
High Impact Rounds:	Fastest and hardest hitting darts. Small foam balls that bounce around. Harder to find. Recommended for ages 14+

Psst… If you’re sick and tired of picking up Nerf darts, stepping on them in the middle of the night or extracting them from your vacuum, Glow Battle is your new best friend. With a few swords instead of a hundred darts, clean up could not be easier. And yes, we admit it: we have a vested reason for telling you about Glow Battle: we produce it!

Are Nerf Toys Dangerous?

Generally speaking, Nerf toys are fairly safe, though the Nerf guns should cause a bit more pause than other types of foam toys. You should always read the manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines. Most Nerf toys are designed for children ages 8 and up, with a few models specifically made for older children, so be sure to purchase accordingly. Adult supervision is also recommended during play. Plus, there are few precautions to take that will help you avoid accidental injuries during a Nerf battle. These include:

1. Never aim at anyone’s face, head or eyes. Even foam can do damage when it is fired at a close enough range.
2. Never look into the barrel of a Nerf gun, even if you don’t think it is loaded. An accidental discharge could damage an eyeball.
3. Ideally, protective googles should be worn during battle as a direct hit to the eye could cause injury.
4. Do not try to modify the Nerf guns or darts to shoot faster or harder. Tampering with the toys could cause serious damage or injuries.

What Are The Best Nerf Alternatives?

So what is a parent to do if their kids want the thrill of battle, but you are hesitant about introducing guns into their world? Or maybe as a parent, you worry about the projectile-type injuries that could possibly come with foam blasters? Well, there are a variety of other harmless foam based weaponry that will satisfy your youngsters’ thirst for strategy and competition without encouraging them to point guns at each other. Our personal favorite, of course is:

GLOW BATTLE FROM STARLUX GAMES

Glow Battle is the epic foam-based battle game for 2 to 10 players. Players use harmless glowing foam batons to strategize and take down their opponents. First, identify your teams with the included different colored LED bracelets. Then, use strategy, teamwork, and your own warrior instincts to team up and attack your opponent, and send them running back to their base to “recharge” before they get hit again. It’s a great way to keep your kids active, teach them strategy and encourage social interaction. Physical activity becomes part of the fun as players run, jump and swing at each other to win. Each game box comes with 10 weapons, 10 glowing wristbands, 8 regeneration station markers and 10 game playing cards with different game variations.

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